Correlation between the iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc content in adolescent girls' hair and their academic records.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study is to investigate the correlation between school academic records and the iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc content in adolescent girls' hair.


METHODS
The iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc content in hair samples from 148 adolescent girls was determined by atomic absorption spectrometer. Their academic records from 2 school semesters were interrelated.


RESULTS
There was a positive correlation between magnesium (r = 0.20; p = 0.016), and zinc (r = 0.31; p = 0.001) content in the hair and academic records. Conversely, the academic records had an inverse correlation with the potassium content (r = -0.23; p = 0.019).


CONCLUSIONS
The content of magnesium, potassium, and zinc in adolescent girls' hair has a certain correlation with their learning performance. The exact effects of these three trace elements on adolescent learning performance warrants further study.
Wang
Chin-Thin
CT
Department of Holistic Education Center, St. John's University, No. 499, Sec. 4, Danjin Rd., Danshuei Township, Taipei County 251, Taiwan (R.O.C.). wang6860@mail.sju.edu.tw
Li
Yingjeng James
YJ
Wang
Fu-Jin
FJ
Shi
Yi-Min
YM
Lee
Bee-Tsu
BT
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000032:analysis*; D007858:Learning; D008274:Magnesium / Q000032:analysis*; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis*; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis*
D007501:Iron; D008274:Magnesium; D015032:Zinc; D011188:Potassium